Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Looking to solidify his role as the team's new leader, Antoine Walker says his main priority now is to call up Erick Dampier to convince him to join the Hawks. Is this merely political posturing, or a real desire to help his new team? One wonders why Walker wouldn't simply pick up the phone first and make pronouncements later. The only explanation that maintains Walker's integrity is that he didn't feel right making phone calls until he was officially introduced as a Hawk yesterday.
"Hopefully it will be my team," said Walker yesterday, in the middle of a lecture of how exciting it is to be part of a rebuilding process, something he clearly was not excited about in the least back when he was wearing Celtic green. This is the first team Walker has been on that is clearly his.
In Boston, he was a willing second fiddle to Paul Pierce, though he earned three All-Star appearances himself. In Dallas, he was just one of the many incredible offensive talents: Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, and Michael Finley all shared part of the spotlight.
In Atlanta, there is only Walker. He has budding star Al Harrington, rookie Josh Childress, and sophomore Boris Diaw around him, and of course he is looking to recruit Dampier, but the leader of the team, the vocal spirit and prime shot-taker will undoubtedly be Walker.
It's sink-or-swim on his own talents, and Walker is probably loving it.
TEAM NOTES
The Hawks have released their 2004-2005 regular season schedule.
An excerpt from the Antoine Walker interview with Hawks.com: This is your third team in the last twelve months – is there any motivation on your part to prove to those teams they made a mistake in letting you go?AW: Not really. I think the Boston situation was kind of tough, with new ownership and new management at the end, but it was great for all the time I was there. Dallas was great too, they treated me well, and I have no complaints about them. The guys on the team were tremendous, it was just a situation where you had too much offensive talent. They were very accommodating in moving me to a team where I’m in a much better situation.
Other remarks to the press: HAWKS VP DOMINIQUE WILKINS Opening remarks: "I personally am very excited about these guys. I think this will be the most talented team since my playing days in Atlanta.With this new direction and bringing these guys in we are going to add a lot of excitement. I'm looking forward to working with these guys."
More, including audio, available at Hawks.com.
Chat with Mike Woodson tomorrow, Thursday, August 12, at 2pm here.
The Associated Press writes inAccess North Georgia: Billy Knight nearly is done with his rebuilding. Closing in on his one-year anniversary as general manager of the Atlanta Hawks, only two players remain from the roster he inherited... Since finishing second in the Central Division in the strike-shortened season of 1998-99, Atlanta is 149-261. Coaches Lenny Wilkens, Lon Kruger and Terry Stotts all have been fired, and Mike Woodson is beginning his first stint ever as a head coach. At least Woodson won't have the same players, since only Chris Crawford and Boris Diaw are left from the beginning of last season.
Curtis Bunn ofThe Atlanta Journal-Constitutionwrites: First order of business for the Hawks' new team-leader, Antoine Walker? Recruiting free-agent center Erick Dampier.An eight-year veteran and three-time All-Star, Walker said he plans to find Dampier's number and start making a sales pitch. "If that's what it takes [to get Dampier to sign with Atlanta]," Walker said Tuesday after he and reliable guard Tony Delk were introduced.
Gary Kalahar ofThe Jackson Citizen Patriotwrites: Rhodes, 11, was among a small gallery watching 26 LPGA professionals in the pro-am that raises money for adoption services. Jane Geddes teamed with David Stanton -- the original Wendy's franchisee in Jackson and a tournament co-founder -- Chris Crawford of the Atlanta Hawks, Jim Berline and John Huss to tie for second.